Astute Skylite Pilarga SR saddle

Astute's Skylite Pilarga SR saddle may look on the pricey side, but with its twin bases, shock absorbers, memory foam and carbon fibre rails, you're getting a lot of engineering from this Italian handmade saddle. Add to the fact it's one of the most comfortable saddles I've every ridden and all of a sudden that cost is looking value for money in terms of smiles per miles.

So what makes it so special then? Well, I think it all comes down to the details – little added extras that make the saddle a little bit better in terms of comfort and, just as importantly, aesthetically.

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The tri-density memory foam padding is, quite simply, brilliant. It's quite hard, you can feel that if you try to push it down with your thumb, but once you place your full body weight down it moulds to your shape and offers plenty of support.

The main comfort comes from the twin base, though. Two thin layers of nylon, the upper one reinforced with carbon, create a hull that flexes in between the stiff, one-piece carbon fibre rails, therefore absorbing road imperfections and impacts. It can be a bit disconcerting at first, as you kind of feel like you're floating in the middle of the saddle rather like a hammock, but you soon adapt. The movement is subtle, mind, it's not like you're bouncing off down the road.

The reason there are two bases is more for aesthetics than performance: it means that the Microfibre upper can be stretched over the foam and sandwiched between the two to avoid the need for any glue or ugly staples. It certainly gives a very smooth, clean finish to the overall look.

I mentioned the stiffness of those carbon fibre rails and it's no exaggeration: they don't move at all. To help here, Astute uses two small rubber elastomers at the junction between base and rail at the rear. I honestly couldn't feel any benefit directly from it, which could be down to how good a job the padding and base are doing. Put it this way, the elastomers don't make the saddle too soft.

As far as fit goes, most race saddles tend to be around the 135mm wide mark but the Pilarga has a wider rear end at 10mm more. This gives a little bit more material for your sit bones, making it ideal for the current crop of endurance and sportive bikes we're seeing on the market of late; the more upright, relaxed position is changing how you sit compared with a nose down, bum up race position.

The nose remains narrow, though – around 40mm – so for those with large thighs you don't get any rubbing issues when pedalling.

With a length of 275mm, it's about 30mm less than you get with, say, a Fizik Arione, which you might miss if you like to be able to slide to the back of the saddle when climbing. Saying that, though, the wider rear portion of the Pilarga means you have something to push against when it gets really steep.

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The rails are standard 7mm diameter and while having flat sides, the top and bottom profile are rounded to fit straight onto the majority of seatposts; it fitted with every one I tried. There is plenty of room at the rear to fit a saddle bag too.

Weight wise, it's not exactly light compared with similarly priced saddles, especially considering the materials used, but we're only talking 50g or so, so it's not exactly a deal breaker.

Overall, I love the Astute, even a little bit more than the Fizik Kurve Snake I tested last year. The Pilarga looks classy and offers a ride that is truly forgettable, which is something you want in a saddle. The details and finish really help to justify the cost, and being one of your main contact points it's worth spending out on something that suits.

On price it matches the Fizik at £190, and yes, it's extravagant, but for this level of comfort, quality, looks and even exclusivity, I would buy one. It added to the pleasure of riding my bike for hours on end and that can only a good thing, right?

Verdict

A saddle that feels great straight out of the box, with top notch quality and detailing, but you do have to pay for it